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Traditions Vs. Science Salt is an essential ingredient in cattle rations. The sodium is essential for the electrolyte balance with the other minerals, particularly potassium. Chlorine is essential for the reproduction of acids in the true stomach of cattle (abomasum) and for the activation of the enzyme amylase which digests starch. Yet, the actual requirements of sodium and chlorine are very low. So why do we feed levels of salt much higher than the requirements? The answer is two-fold.
The research is limited. There does not appear to be any benefit for either a low salt or a modest salt level. It appears many feedlot nutritionists use a level between 0.25 to 0.4 percent of the ration dry matter. The higher level of salt is used with rations that have a higher risk for water belly, such as rations for steers or rations with milo and wheat-based rations. The salt helps flush out the excess phosphorus from the wheat or milo. Sources of Sodium and Chlorine Most feed ingredients contain usually enough chlorine. The sodium is supplied by either salt (40 percent sodium) or sodium bicarbonate (25 percent sodium). If potassium is added to the ration, it is often supplied by potassium chloride (47 percent chlorine) which also increases the chlorine content of the ration. The sodium and potassium are essential for the mineral balance and the chloride is needed for control of the acidity of the urine in order to control water belly. Free Choice Salt Many feedlots still put out salt blocks. We see very little loose salt supplied in the feedlot. The reason for using salt free choice is a management reason. Cattle will lick the blocks rather than eat dirt, preventing holes in the pen. If salt is fed free choice, reduce the salt in the ration. With low salt intake, I have observed manure eating by cattle. This was also reported in an experiment with heifers at Colorado. The cattle performed well on the no salt diet but licked each other, ate manure and licked the deposits of urine. Salt in the Water Some livestock water sources need to be tested for sodium, chlorine, potassium, magnesium, as well as calcium. In addition, the carbonates, sulfates and chlorides need to be determined. If the water is high in one or more of these nutrients, then the rations can be adjusted. A yearly check for pathogens is also suggested for all wells. Risks of Feedlot Water Belly The feedlot water belly (calculi phosphatic type) occur after about 75 days on feed from my experience. There are two risks: 1) high phosphorus rations, and 2) high risk cattle caused by early castration. The main cause is a high phosphorus ration. The corrective action is to increase the salt, and increase the potassium chloride in the ration. The salt increases the urine flow and supplies chlorides in the urine to change the acidity of the urine. The increased potassium chloride will supply potassium and essential nutrients (which may be needed with high grain rations). The second risk is early castrated bull calves. It is not uncommon for calves to be castrated at birth. They may not go on feed until yearlings, but the diameter of the urethra is reduced. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. When feeding early castrated cattle, I suggest the salt level be increased slightly to prevent calculi. Delayed castration is needed on some ranches to reduce not only feedlot calculi, but also reduce and prevent the "range cattle water belly" which is a silicate-type calculi. Salt in Manure One of the reasons for reducing the salt in rations is to reduce the salt in the content of the manure. Most of the salt in a cattle ration ends up in the manure. Very little is sent to the packing house with the finished cattle. For every 1000 head of cattle, if the ration contained 0.3 percent salt, in a year's time, the manure would contain nearly 11 tons of salt. This, when harvested, would be spread on the land. So the reduction of salt in rations is justified from a farming perspective. Your nutritionist and feed manufacturer can help fine tune the salt levels for control of water bellies as well as to reduce salt in the manure. Comments on this article can be directed to Dr. James I. Sprague, 1021 N. Second St, Garden City, KS 67846. |
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